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Academic Innovation
April 4, 2025
Academic Strategic Communications

Faculty Champions: Empowering Faculty, Enhancing Learning

Claudia Arcolin from the Office of Teaching, Learning and Digital Transformation explores how UTSA's award-winning Faculty Champions have shaped the future of teaching and learning.
Faculty Champions: Empowering Faculty, Enhancing Learning
Faculty Champion Terri Matiella and Lorenzo Brancaleon, a former Academic Innovation Faculty Leadership Fellow, chat during an event in the Academic Innovation Center (MS240).

One of UTSA Academic Innovation’s primary goals is to serve as a hub for engagement and cross-pollination across disciplines. We strive to build synergies across the institution, helping faculty implement innovative teaching practices, pilot new strategies, and explore emerging technologies. 

I like to think of our work as a catalyst for data-informed decision-making that positively impacts student success. 

The Faculty Champions Program is a cornerstone of this mission. Faculty engagement flourishes when built on trust and authenticity, and each Faculty Champion plays a pivotal role in fostering collaboration within their departments.

As higher education continues to evolve rapidly, these faculty members help shape the future of teaching and learning. 

We recently refreshed the Faculty Champions webpage, where each College Point of Contact has shared their vision and key contributions as leaders of this program. Their work underscores how this initiative has transformed over time.

A Brief History of the Faculty Champions Program

The program began in Spring 2020 as part of the university’s response to the sudden shift to online teaching during the pandemic. At the time, 66% of courses were taught face-to-face, requiring faculty to quickly adapt. Faculty Champions became essential in supporting this transition. – and were even by the WICHE Cooperative for Education Technologies (WCET) in 2021.

Since then, the program has evolved significantly. Champions have led efforts to:

  • Support faculty in migrating to Canvas, UTSA’s Learning Management System.
  • Advocate for innovative and evidence-based teaching practices.
  • Explore microcredentials to bridge the classroom-to-career gap and improve career outcomes.
  • Implement Generative AI-enhanced practices for curriculum design, assessment, and student engagement.
  • Participate in strategic initiatives such as the Student Experience Project.

This list doesn’t even scratch the surface of the daily work that Faculty Champions engage in to support their peers and UTSA students.

Rebecca Schroeder, Associate Dean of Undergraduate Studies and the University College (UC) Point of Contact for the Faculty Champions program, summarizes the program’s vision and impact:

“Our Faculty Champions are dedicated to fostering a student-centered learning environment that supports academic success and interdisciplinary collaboration. By sharing best practices, mentoring peers, and integrating innovative instructional strategies, we empower faculty to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes.  

"Our champions represent a diverse range of disciplines, ensuring that every student benefits from high-quality instruction, critical thinking development, and real-world applications of knowledge. Together, we cultivate a culture of continuous improvement, equipping students with the skills and experiences necessary for academic and professional success.”
As we continue to grow this initiative, we look forward to strengthening collaboration, innovation, and faculty-led leadership in shaping the future of education.

By Claudia Arcolin, Ph.D.
Executive Director for Teaching and Learning Experiences
The Office of Teaching, Learning and Digital Transformation, UTSA Academic Innovation

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